XXVIII Convención Minera Internacional, AIMMGM AC, Veracruz, Ver.

, 28 al 31 de octubre de 2009
 
UNIQUE FEATURES OF LIMESTONE-HOSTED BASE
METAL DEPOSITS AT THE PUERTO RICO MINE,
COAHUILA
W. NOEL MCANULTY, Jr.
Consulting Geologist (wnoelmc@elp.rr.com)

ABSTRACT
The Puerto Rico mine, located along the west flank of Sierra del Carmen in extreme northern Coahuila, has
geologic features typical of most limestone-hosted Pb-Zn-Ag deposits in Mexico, but also several geologic
features not common in that deposit type. Structural controls are pronounced at Puerto Rico. The mine area
is bounded by a range marginal fault, formed prior to at least some of the mineralization, which displaces
and exposes Paleozoic age mica schist basement rock. Known Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu deposits are localized along
the axis of a tight anticlinal fold, locally overturned, in the upthrown side of the fault. Alteration of limestone
is a notable and unique feature. Limestone host rocks are discolored over the entire mine prospect, an area
4 km long by 400 m wide. Normally thick-bedded gray limestones have a dark reddish brown tint due to local
pervasive flooding of limestone by Fe oxides and by large areas of closely spaced FeOx and MnOx filled
fractures. Copper is abundant in parts of the mine area. Copper grades in the 2% to 6% range, report in the
southern part of the Puerto Rico area and at depth in the Puerto Rico mine proper. Copper occurs in
sulfides, including primary chalcocite, as replacements in limestone without associated calc-silicate
minerals, forming copper-dominant, non-skarn, limestone-hosted deposits.

RESUMEN
La mina Puerto Rico, localizada a lo largo de la ladera poniente de la Sierra del Carmen, en el extremo norte
del estado de Coahuila, presenta características geológicas que son típicas de la mayoría de los
yacimientos de Pb-Zn-Ag emplazados en calizas de México, pero además, también presenta algunas
características geológicas que no son comunes a estos tipos de depósitos minerales. Los controles
estructurales son muy importantes en Puerto Rico. El área de la mina está limitada por una falla que se
formó antes de al menos algunas de las etapas de mineralización, y que desplaza y expone rocas de
basamento con esquistos de mica, de edad Paleozoica. Los yacimientos conocidos de Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu se
localizan a lo largo del eje de un pliegue anticlinal cerrado, localmente volteado, en el lado de la falla que fue
empujada hacia arriba. La alteración de las calizas es una característica notable y única. Las calizas
encajonantes de los yacimientos minerales presentan un tono descolorido sobre toda el área mineralizada,
con una superficie que cubre 4 km de largo por 400 m de ancho. Las calizas de capas gruesas de color gris
presentan alteraciones de tono café rojizo obscuro, debido a la invasión penetrante de la caliza local por
óxidos de fierro, y por grandes extensiones cubiertas por un sistema cerrado de fracturas rellenas de
óxidos de fierro y manganeso. El cobre abunda en partes del área de la mina. Los contenidos de cobre
varían en un rango del 2% al 6% por tonelada en la parte sur del área de Puerto Rico, y en la propia mina
Puerto Rico. El cobre aparece en sulfuros, incluyendo calcocita primaria, como reemplazamiento en la
caliza, sin presentar asociación con minerales con contenidos de calco-silicatos, formando depósitos en los
que domina el cobre, emplazados en calizas, pero sin presencia de skarn.

INTRODUCTION
Puerto Rico is an old Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu mine, but a mine that is little known. The mine produced a moderate
amount of Pb-Ag ores in the late 1890’s, and in 1906 through 1920 and again in the 1970’s was a
significant producer of Zn oxides. Yet, published information about the Puerto Rico mine is limited to a few
generalized articles, more historic than technical, in trade journals from the early 1900’s (Anonymous,
1911). Puerto Rico is not included in more modern compilations about Pb-Zn-Ag deposits in Mexico such
as the well known article on mineral deposits in Mexico in Economic Geology (Megaw, et.al., 1988).
Puerto Rico has many geologic features typical of limestone-hosted Pb-Zn-Ag deposits. But, the Puerto
Rico mine and near vicinity have several geologic features not common to these deposit types especially
its structural setting and structural control for mineralization; the extent and intensity of alteration in the
limestone host rock; and the amount and mode of occurrence of associated copper minerals.

LOCATION

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The Puerto Rico prospect is located in low hills along the base of the west-facing escarpment of Sierra del
Carmen near the NW limit of the state of Coahuila, about 5 km airline south of the Rio Grande and the
U.S. border. Puerto Rico is 250 km by road from Melchor Muzquiz, the nearest town. The La Encantada
Ag-Pb mine is 80 km to the south. The Coahuila fluorite district is centered 50 km to the east on the
opposite side of the large Sierra del Carmen.

GEOLOGY
Surface geology of the Puerto Rico prospect was mapped in moderate detail during the exploration project
of the Consejo de Recursos Minerales-Japan Mining Agency in the 1970’s (Anonymous, circa 1980).
Sierra Del Carmen is located on the margin of the Burro Uplift, one of several basement highs recognized
in northeastern Mexico. The NNW trending Norias Fault, the major range marginal fault, extends along the
west margin of the prospect. Fault displacement is a minimum of 400 m, down to the west. An unusually
complete stratigraphic sequence is exposed east of the Norias Fault. The oldest rocks exposed are
Paleozoic age mica schists, considered to be part of the Ouachita metamorphic belt (Carpenter, 1997).
This is one of a very few exposures of Paleozoic metamorphic basement in northern Mexico. The Puerto
Rico Formation, consisting of reddish colored conglomerate and sandstone that grade upward into shaly
limestone, unconformably overlies the schist. This unit also is uncommon in exposures in northern Mexico.
The Cupido Limestone, the main host for mineralization at the prospect, is gray, thick bedded folded
limestone that conformably overlies the Puerto Rico Formation.

Old mine and prospect workings plus alteration extend in a NNW trending band 4 km long by about 400 m
wide defining the Puerto Rico prospect area. An overturned anticline, parallel to the Norias Fault trends
the length of the prospect area. Faults and fractures along the anticline axis are important controls to
mineralization (McAnulty, 2009).The Puerto Rico prospect is comprised of three areas with different
mineral character. The Mina Puerto Rico area proper, the central area, is a mix of Pb-Zn-Ag chimneys and
mantos plus Cu-bearing mantos. The Venus-Papícuano area, the northern area, is dominantly Pb-Zn-Ag.
The Mina San José area, the southern area, is dominantly Cu with subordinate Zn and Ag values. Mina
Puerto Rico proper is in the central part of the Puerto Rico prospect. Cupido Limestone, comprising most
of the outcrop in the Mina Puerto Rico area, is strongly folded in an anticline overturned to the west. A
monzonite sill intruded the Cupido in the west limb on the fold. A chimney deposit of oxide Pb-Zn-Ag
cropped out along the anticline axis. This discovery outcrop was later worked from the surface downward,
first for Pb-Ag ores and later for Zn oxides. The chimney deposit workings were vertical from the surface
about 65 m, then worked SE horizontally along the anticline axis about 100 m. A haulage drift collared
about 80 m below the surface outcrop was driven 70 m north and an ore pass sunk to pull ores from the
lower part of the chimney. In the early 1970’s gambusinos recognized presence of Zn oxides in mantos
0
cut by the haulage drift. The mantos trend NW and dip 25 NE. Drifts were driven NW and SE from the
haulage drift and parallel (stacked) mantos stoped irregularly for Zn oxides either side of the drift for
relatively short distances. In the SE drift, about 180 m from the haulage drift, Zn-Pb bearing mantos grade
into Cu bearing mantos. Chalcopyrite, bornite, some Cu oxides, minor pyrite and varying amounts of
galena make up the mantos, accompanied by relatively little carbonate gangue. The Cu mantos have
been mined on a small scale for direct shipping Cu ores.

The Venus-Papícuano area, the northern part of the Puerto Rico prospect, was the main focus of
exploration carried out by the Consejo de Recursos Minerales-Japan Mining Agency in the 1970’s. The
Venus mine, a long abandoned gambusino working mined for Ag, is the main old working. Numerous
prospect pits, trenches and short drifts have been excavated on Pb-Zn shows in the Paícuano area. The
CRM-JMA drilled 16 core holes about 1980 or 1981 in the Venus-Papicuano area. No drilling was done in
the area of the Mina Puerto Rico or Mina San José apparently because these areas were covered by
private claims, not part of the national reserve area. Drilling cut several, widely separated, well mineralized
Ag and Pb intervals, probably irregularly shaped bodies such as mantos or chimneys. Only trace amount
of copper report in assays from the prospect workings and drill core. The San José and the Zaragosa
mines are present in the southern part of the Puerto Rico prospect. Cupido Limestone comprises most of
the outcrop in this southern area. Mantos with Cu, Zn and Pb oxides crop out at Mina San José
accompanied by abundant Fe oxides. These mantos were excavated for Cu by irregular, gambusino style
workings. Three mantos emplaced in different beds localized in the east limb of the anticline near the
0
anticlinal axis trend NW and dip about 20 E. About 10 m down dip from the outcrop mantos steepen to
form a chimney deposit about 10 m in diameter. A haulage drift collared 50 meters lower than the
outcropping mantos was driven 170 m east where a vertical raise was driven to draw ore from the

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chimney. As at Mina Puerto Rico, later miners found that the haulage drift cut mantos with economic
grade Zn oxides. The mantos were drifted along and stoped for Zn oxides above and for short distances
below the haulage level. Zn values decrease and Cu values increase significantly in mantos a short
distance below the haulage level.

Figure 1. Inclined satellite image of the Puerto Rico prospect area, looking NNE. Yellow line is location of the Rio Grande.
Discolored zone at the base of the west-facing Sierra del Carmen escarpment covers the prospect area. Roads in the discolored
zone in the east central part of the image are at Mina Puerto Rico.

At Mina san José the lowest level developed is 8 m below the haulage level and extends NW of the north
drift about 50 m. Only a limited amount of stoping was done was done on this lower level. Mineralized
structures on this level strike NW and dip in two different directions. The NE workings are along mantos
0 0
which dip 10 to 20 NE paralleling bedding. Mineralized widths are 1 to 1.5 m. These mantos were
worked for Zn oxides, though some copper is present also. Drifts on the SW side of the level are along
0
“chimneys” (steeply dipping replaced beds) that dip 40 SW.

Table 1. Mina San José: Lower Level

Spl No. Cu Zn Pb Ag Au Mo Hg Sb
% % % gpt gpt ppm ppm ppm
SW Dipping Beds
SRM-1 11.4 1.1 0.2 110 0.01 200 15 158
SRM-2 2.7 3.1 4.5 120 0.01 94 210 85
SRM-3 2.4 1.3 0.4 29 <0.005 39 54 33
SRM-5 4.9 0.5 0.4 40 0.01 52 24 43
SRM-6 6.7 0.3 0.4 68 0.01 76 24 77
NE Dipping Beds
SRM-4 0.6 35 21 601 0.03 1734 1534 1989
SRM-7 0.2 33 20 485 0.01 142 1034 566

Individual mineralized zone up to 2.5 m wide and parallel mineralized zones define a minimum width of 5
m. The chimney at the hoist incline (on cross section B-B’) has been continuously stoped from the lower
level upward to about 15 el and above. Copper minerals predominate in the structure on the lower level.
The structure at the base of the stope is brecciated, probably a hydrothermal breccia. Primary chalcocite
occurs as clasts ranging up to 10 mm long rimmed by malachite and mixed with clasts of limestone and
calcite. No calc-silicate minerals are present.

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It appears chalcocite was transported from depth, suggesting an earlier phase of copper mineralization.
Chemistry of the shallow NE dipping and steep SW dipping mineralized beds are quite different.Steeply
SW dipping beds contain high values of Cu with associated Zn and Ag values, plus generally low Pb
values. Shallow NE dipping beds contain very high values of Pb and Zn, as oxides, plus high Ag, and very
low Cu. Values of Hg, Sb, and Mo are elevated in mantos, suggesting a relatively low temperature of
deposition. Chimneys appear to represent a later, higher temperature stage of mineralization.

UNIQUE GEOLOGIC FEATURES

Structure
Structural control for most of the limestone-hosted Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu) deposits in Mexico are characteristically
relatively subtle consisting of flexures rather than strong folds and faults with relatively small displacement.
Structural controls for mineralization are pronounced at Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico mine area is
localized along the Norias Fault, a major range margin fault with at least 400 m of stratigraphic throw that
cuts basement rocks. Paleozoic age mica schist is exposed locally on the upthrown, east side of the fault.
In addition, a tight anticlinal fold extends the length of the Puerto Rico mineralized zone. The larger known
deposits are localized along the axis of the anticline and in both limbs of the fold within a few tens of
meters of the axis.

Alteration
Limestone-hosted Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu) deposits in Mexico characteristically have weak and spatially limited
alteration of the limestone host rock. A notable and unique feature of the Puerto Rico prospect is the
presence of strong alteration in limestones over the entire length of the prospect, an area 4 kilometers
long by 400 m wide. Normally gray limestones are altered to a dark reddish brown color. The color
anomaly is discernible in satellite images and very notable in the field. The discolored zone is localized
along the anticline axis and to lesser extent along the Norias Fault. The reddish color is due to the
presence of FeOx and MnOx. Local NW elongate pods several tens of meters long of stronger alteration
are present within the larger altered zone. These pods are characterized by FeOx flooding of limestone
and numerous, closely spaced FeOx and MnOx filled fractures, some ranging up to 1 m wide. Narrower
fractures are filled with calcite and MnOx and some barite. The strongest alteration is the Mina San José
area where a strong color anomaly in the Cupido limestones extends NW about 1 km from Mina San José
to Mina Puerto Rico. Monzonite exposed Mina San José haulage drift is completely argillized to the point
that recognition of the rock as intrusive is difficult.

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Copper
Copper is present in relatively minor amounts (trace to about 1%), compared to amounts of Pb and Zn in
several limestone-hosted Pb-Zn-Ag deposits in Mexico. Copper, without associated skarn, occurs with Pb
and Zn oxides in mantos and chimneys at Sierra Almoloya and San Pedro Corralitos. Copper is more
common in Pb-Zn-Ag bearing skarns. Copper is reported in Pb-Zn skarns associated with dikes and sills
at considerable depths at Naica and Ojuela. Copper occurs with Pb-Zn-Ag near surface skarns at San
Martín, Charcas, and Velardeña. The unique aspects of the copper occurrences at Puerto Rico, especially
the San José mine area, are 1) copper is abundant, grades in the 3% to 6% range, and amounts of Zn
and Pb are low; and 2) copper occurs as replacements in limestone without associated calc-silicate
minerals. These are copper dominant, non-skarn, limestone-hosted deposits. Copper mineralogy,
incompletely studied as yet, appears distinctive as well. Primary chalcocite is the dominant copper mineral
in the lower level at San José rather than chalcopyrite or bornite.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Anonymous, 1911, Del Carmen zinc mine: Mines and Minerals, v. 24, p. 437-438.
Anonymous, circa 1980, Plano geológico del área de mina Puerto Rico: Consejo de Recursos Minerales
unpublished map.
Carpenter, D. 1997, Tectonic history of the metamorphic basement rocks of the Sierra del Carmen,
Coahuila, Mexico: GSA Bull., v. 109, p. 1321.
McAnulty, W.N., Jr, 2009, Puerto Rico Mine Prospect, Coahuila, Mexico: Unpublished consulting report.
Megaw, P.K.M., Ruiz, J., and Titley, S.R., 1988, High–temperature, carbonate-hosted, Pb-Zn-Ag massive
sulphide deposits of Mexico: an overview: Econ. Geol., v. 83, p.1856-1885.

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